things to do in amsterdamhttp://www.lifeinamsterdam.com/what-to-do/Sat, 30 Nov 2013 13:18:12 +0000en-GBSquarespace V5 Site Server v5.13.283 (http://www.squarespace.com)Recommended: Mr. Masseur Eddie LawrenceplacesKiraFri, 04 Oct 2013 06:40:59 +0000http://www.lifeinamsterdam.com/what-to-do/2013/10/4/recommended-mr-masseur-eddie-lawrence.html841404:14736875:34306731Some people have a unique talent to transcend their calm nature onto me. Just by shaking their hand, I start to release my ‘computer shoulders’. Eddie Lawrence is someone with that talent.

In addition, Eddie Lawrence is Mister Masseur - a trained and qualified masseur from Ireland whose musical career made him end up in Amsterdam. Eddie is the first male professional to give me a massage, so I was a little un-at-ease before ringing the doorbell of his practice. Yet as mentioned in the intro, when he opened the door and shook my hand, all tension released.

OK, I’m exaggerating… not ALL tension released. That only happened when he started working on my computer shoulders. It truly is amazing how a massage can make you aware of: (1) how tense you are, (2) how it feels to be relaxed, and(3) how it feels to be in the ‘here and now’.

Eddie Lawrence is Mr. Masseur of Amsterdam.Particularly point 2 and 3 are extremely rare for me, making me very grateful for professionals as Eddie. But even if you don’t have this problem, but you are a high energy person or spend way too much time behind a screen, I recommend a visit to Mr. Masseur Eddie.

Mr. Masseur can do more than stress releasing and pain relief treatments, though. If you are the opposite of me, why not opt for an energy boosting massage?! Eddie Lawrence uses holistic and traditional techniques, including the much-loved deep-tissue massages. However, Eddie comments: ‘You don’t need to feel pain, to get the body in a better shape. 50% of the people who want deep-tissue, don’t actually need it’.

Eddie Lawrence also gives Reiki treatments

So my mantra ‘no pain, no gain’ doesn’t apply to massages. Which is fine, I don’t like pain anyhow. But what is the benefit of soft massages then? “Soft massage are better for toxin release. Deep-tissue focuses more on muscles”. Hmm… may be we Amsterdammers love deep-tissue massages so much because we intensively use your legs and bums to bike across town. (For your information, I’m a car-person, so I’m keeping the state of my behind undisclosed).

Eddie comes from a family that’s focused on ‘healing’. For example, his mother set up a Centre of Holistic Healing above her Health Food Shop. Together with his mother, Eddie was a pioneer in alternative medicine in Ireland and masters the art of Reiki.

As can be expected from an Irishman, Eddie is very friendly, grounded and has a good sense of humour. Heck, he can even sing and play the drums (which explains why he’s good with his hands). He can speak a little Dutch, but obviously his English is better.

Eddie Lawrence his massage treatment roomMr. Masseur’s prices are modest at E30 for 30mins / E50 for an hour / E70 for 90 mins. His practice room is at Borneostraat, where you can park for free after 21h. He is always at the practice on Monday evenings from 18h30-23h and on all other days depending on availability.

Stream the show here. Right click here and 'save as' to download directly

FRIDAY 6 September

ORANGE TEA THEATRE COMPANY

Also part of the Fringe festival, is the English language play by a local group called the Orange Tea Theatre Company. The play is called I Am I and is described thusly: Mike Czuba’s breakneck and hilarious play rockets from place to place, taking in everything from love poems to sexual politics to just how much is ok to spend on dinner. But can the actors keep to the script, or will life get in the way? One woman, one man. No, two men. One man split in two. Three actors. Two actors and an actress? Who knows any more… get mixed up and straightened out with Orange Tea Theatre’s I Am. I AM I - Orange Tea Theatre Company | €11 | Runs 6th-9th of September | Curtain on the 6th at 9pm, 7-9 September at 6pm Tickets | Email: info@orangeteatheatre.com | Telephone: +31 (0) 6238 65500

ROCKET CINEMA hosts OPEN AIR MOVIES ON THE CANAL Here’s the deal, for the next three nights there will be a big ass screen in the grassy area next to Paradiso, they will show movies on this screen. Here’s the kicker, world renowned DJs will be there to redo the soundtrack. Friday they will showing the classic Creature From the Black Lagoon with DJ Dirk Diggler, Saturday it’s the Amsterdam classic slasher flick Amsterdamned with music by the Smoke Eaters and Sunday...it’s fuckin’ Jaws, man with music by the Alec Smart who must have balls the size of church bells to redo John Williams’ classic score. Oh, and one last thing, the sound will be coming from headphones so you can’t just jack a movie for free, so bring another twinski for headphone deposit. ROCKET CINEMA hosts OPEN AIR MOVIES ON THE CANAL | NEXT TO PARADISO | €7.50 + €20.00 HEADPHONE DEPOSIT | 8:30

Saturday 7 September

AMSTERDAM DERBY DAMES Our hometown roller derby-ers are sponsoring 24 hours of skating with an event called Block Around the Clock. This marathon skating event is being held to raise awareness and money to fight sex trafficking. Starting at noon and going for 24 hours you can see 30 minute scrimmages between groups like cats lovers vs dogs lovers, Lord of the Rings fans vs Star Wars nerds and the ever popular Carpet Munchers vs Strictly Dickly. All profits go directly to Fier Fryslan and Centrum Kinderhandel en Mensenhandel. BLOCK AROUND THE CLOCK | €35 | Sporthallen Zuid Burgerweeshuispad 54 | Noon saturday to noon Sunday | FACEBOOK EVENTTHE NIGHT OF THE UNEXPECTED This is a classical and jazz festival that, this year, has a Russian flavor in honor of the Netherlands-Russia cultural exchange year. It will also feature a soporific performance by Julianna Barwick. This song is called Nepenthe. Prepare to bliss out.

Terry O’Neill is one of those 70s photographers whose images have documented a decade. And now he’s "Newly Discovered" at the Eduard Planting Gallery over on the Eerste Bloemdwarsstraat for amazing images of supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Iman and Kate Moss. Portraits of actresses like Ursula Andress, Andie MacDowell, Audrey Hepburn, Isabella Rossellini, Michelle Pfeiffer and Sharon Stone and also David Bowie, Johan Cruijff, James Garner, Queen and Diana.

Don’t know much about this, but the marketing blurb claims Valtifest is one of Amsterdam's most weird and wonderful music festivals with live DJs and bands will offer a mix of musical styles, including dance, electro, house, dubstep, hip-hop and punk. Watch this "unique" video. By the way, Valt ‘ie is a play on words meaning, “Is it going to fall?”

SUNDAY 8 September PURE MARKET

A relaxed foodie festival, the Pure Markt offers a variety of international and local dishes to sample, including paella, bun cha, ice cream, oysters, cava, sausages, goulash, and beer. You can also purchase food to take home like cheese, jams and olive oil as well as clothing and home decor items.

PURE MARKT | Every month at Park Frankendael from 11:00-18:00 and every second Sunday of every month at Amstelpark from 11:00-18:00

CANAL SWIM FOR ALS ALS, also known as Lou Gherig’s Disease, is an incurable nerve and muscle disease, where your muscles stop working one by one. Little is known about the cause of this disease and there is no cure presently so a lot of research and money is needed. It’s a great cause. You can find out more and donate at the link below. Event starts at 12:30 sharp and the last person should be done by 1:00.

WINE CABARET @ THE MEZRAB The Australian troupe, The OzCabaret will be performing their Amsterdam Fringe Preview for the Mezrab audience on Sunday 8th September, 2013 at 7.30pm (Doors open 7pm). Join these three talented Aussie performers as serve up a cleverly conceived interactive Wine Cabaret. Taste five wines from around the world and be treated to stories, music and a beautiful repertoire of famous wine songs from the likes of Leonard Cohen, The Eagles and Whitesnake. Gold coin donation at the door.